Context sensitive information management system and method

• US 20070214416A1
• Filed: 02/02/2007
• Published: 09/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Peter Lusty
• Original Assignee: Peter Lusty
• Inventors: Lusty, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 8,296,655 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/705
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24575 using context
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/248 Presentation of query results

Abstract

A context sensitive information management system and method for use in a system comprising a number of applications each able to display information in response to a user input and a contextual coprocessor. The method comprising the steps of: the contextual coprocessor storing a plurality of context definitions each defining information to be displayed; the user making an input to an application; the application displaying information in response to the user input; the contextual coprocessor identifying a stored context definition corresponding to a current context definition; and the contextual processor displaying the information defined by said identified stored context definition; in which the context definitions stored by the contextual coprocessor are based upon data passing between the application and the user.

Claims

1. A context sensitive information management system, comprising:

a number of applications each able to display information in response to a user input to said application, and a contextual coprocessor, the contextual coprocessor being arranged to display further information different from said information in response to said user input, the further information being selected by the contextual coprocessor based upon the application to which said user input was made and a current context definition for said application, said current context definition being defined by the contextual coprocessor based upon data passing between the application and the user.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the context definition is defined by the contextual coprocessor based upon the type of data sent for display to a user by the application.

3. A system according to claim 2, wherein the context definition is defined by the contextual coprocessor based upon the location on a display of data sent for display to a user by the application.

4. A system according to claim 3, wherein the context definition is defined by the contextual coprocessor based upon the content of data sent for display to a user by the application.

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein the context definition is defined by the contextual coprocessor based upon user inputs to the application.

6. A system according to claim 1, wherein the application runs on a server separate from the user terminal and the context definition is defined by the contextual coprocessor based upon dialogue between the user terminal and the application server.

7. A system accordingly to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of applications each able to display information.

8. A system according to claim 1, wherein the further information is obtained from said application.

9. A system according to claim 1, wherein the further information is not obtained from said application.

10. A system according to claim 7, wherein the further information is obtained from another one of said plurality of applications.

11. A system according to claim 7, wherein the current context definition is specific to said application.

12. A system according to claim 11, wherein the system has a plurality of users and the current context definition is specific to a user.

13. A system according to claim 7, wherein the current context definition includes the identity of other applications which are currently open.

14. A system according to claim 13, wherein the current context definition includes the current status of the other open applications.

15. A system according to claim 14, wherein the current context definition includes previous user actions.

16. A system according to claim 15, wherein the previous user actions include information requested by the user from other applications.

17. A context sensitive information management method for use in a system, comprising a number of applications each able to display information in response to a user input and a contextual coprocessor and comprising the steps of:

storing a plurality of context definitions each defining information to be displayed;

the user making an input to an application;

said application displaying information in response to the user input;

the contextual coprocessor identifying a stored context definition corresponding to a current context definition; and

the contextual processor displaying the information defined by said identified stored context definition;

wherein the stored context definitions are based upon data passing between the application and the user.

18. A method according to claim 17, wherein the stored context definitions are based upon the type of data sent for display to the user by the application.

19. A method according to claim 18, wherein the stored context definitions are based upon the location on a display of data sent for display to the user by the application.

20. A method according to claim 18, wherein the stored context definitions are based upon the content of data sent for display to the user by the application.

21. A method according to claim 17, wherein the stored context definitions are based upon user inputs to the application.

22. A method according to claim 17, wherein the application runs on a server separate from the user terminal and the stored context definitions are based upon dialogue between the user terminal and the application server.

23. A method according to claim 17, wherein the system comprises a plurality of applications each able to display information.

24. A method according to claim 17, wherein the further information is obtained from said application.

25. A method according to claim 17, wherein the further information is not obtained from said application.

26. A method according to claim 23, wherein the displayed information is obtained from another one of the plurality of applications.

27. A method according to claim 23, wherein the current context definition is specific to said application.

28. A method according to claim 17, wherein the system has a plurality of users and the current context definition is specific to a user.

29. A method according to claim 23, wherein the current context definition includes the identity of other applications which are currently open.

30. A method according to claim 29, wherein the current context definition includes the current status of the other open applications.

31. A method according to claim 17, wherein the current context definition includes previous user actions.

32. A method according to claim 31, wherein the previous user actions include information requested by the user from other applications.

33. A method according to claim 17, further comprising a computer program arranged to carry out said method.